#RichlandGives Spotlight: NUHOP
Nuhop, home of Camp Nuhop is a small, independent, not-for-profit, experiential education center just outside of Perrysville, OH. The first and foremost mission of Nuhop is our programs catering to children with special needs. Camp Nuhop is a highly unique residential summer camp & respite program which serves children with special needs including but not limited to: Learning Disabilities, Emotional Disorders, Attention Deficit Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, including higher level Autism Spectrum Disorders. For several reasons, including lack of adequate staffing, training, liability concerns, and administrative resistance, children with special needs are often excluded from typical programs. For over 40 years, Camp Nuhop has occupied this niche, providing traditional outdoor and overnight programs highly tailored for children with these needs.
Even as we serve children from multiple communities, the past two years has seen a deepening connection with vulnerable, special needs’ children of Richland County. Our weekend respite program is closely partnered with the Richland County Youth and Family Council greatly expanding our ability to serve the children of Richland County. These respite weekends are designed to encourage positive social and emotional interactions in a safe and compassionate environment. Our staff designs a program around a weekend theme that is engaging, fun and geared to the needs of the campers. A previous weekend respite found Richland County students building a time capsule, playing capture the flag, making candles and taking in Malabar Farms “Heritage Days” events.
We are super excited to be participating for the first time in the Richland Gives event this November. Richland Gives is providing a medium to connect Nuhop with the generous citizens of Richland County. It is our hope that through this connection our organization may continue to supply high quality, much-needed programs for these exceptional children as well as increase opportunities for these children to participate in local activities and festivals under the care of dedicated, kind and empathetic young adult staff. When these children have the opportunity to play together, learn together and grow together we are confident that these experiences will strengthen our communities and teach young people how to positively impact their neighborhoods.
